CHOC Childhood Cancer Foundation SA calls on all South Africans to ‘Have a heart for children with cancer’ on 15 February as the foundation celebrates International Childhood Cancer Day (ICCD).
ICCD is a global collaborative initiative to raise awareness about childhood cancer and express support for children with cancer, survivors and their families.
In developed countries, childhood cancer is mostly curable with an overall survival rate of 70 to 80 per cent in comparison to South Africa, where the rate is approximately 55 per cent. To improve this rate, CHOC hopes to create awareness of the early warning signs of childhood cancer. Early detection means early diagnosis, enabling a better chance of being cured and an increase in the survival rate.
CHOC CEO Carl Querios said that South Africa has excellent treatment for childhood cancer, but the main issue preventing the saving of lives is the late diagnosis.
CHOC calls on schools, corporates and community groups to join CHOC celebrities and ambassadors in wearing blue with the ICCD badge or a heart pin on 15 February. In addition to wearing anything blue, CHOC supporters are encouraged to buy delicious heart-shaped chocolate or trendy ‘Have a heart for children with cancer’ badge or heart pin on Valentine’s Day.
To date, CHOC has trained 21 229 people to detect the early warning signs of childhood cancer, which has led to a noticeable increase in referrals. CHOC is also the only organisation in South Africa that provides comprehensive nationwide support to children with cancer and life-threatening blood disorders and their families.
Visit the CHOC website at www.choc.org.za to purchase ICCD badges, chocolates and pins from a CHOC office near you. The site will also inform you about the early warning signs of childhood cancer. By knowing these signs and passing on our knowledge, we could save a precious child’s life.
